Painful breast feeding - don't want to give up

[kipper31]

Hi

My DD is now 11 days old and took to BF straight away. Over the last week my nipples have become very sore and I end up in tears most times I feed her. I don;t want to give it up, but I am coming very close. She hasn't cracked my nipples and the midwife has shown me how to get her properly latched on, she takes a big mouthful but only seems to suck on my nipple. I would just like some advice re. nipple sheilds, expressing and what it is I am doing wrong. The midwife is very hesitant about giving advice about bottle feeding and expressing, which isn't very hlepful!!

Are you in the UK ? If so, you might be better off getting some face to face advice from NCT/LLL/ABM/BFN or Baby Cafe. All of these have trained breast feeding counsellors who will be more than happy to recheck your latch and position and give you advice

I used kamillosan cream lavishly on my nipples with ds1 at the end of every feed, taste didn't bother him at all, and kept them from getting too sore.

nipple shields also worth a try

if your latch is ok and she's drinking fine, it may just take a little while to ease up...

it sounds like she isn't latching on properly

I remember strugging with my first until I realised that he latch was wrong

is your dd's lower lip folded out?

if it isn't you have to correct it soher mouth ison your nipple like that
healthguide.howstuffworks.com/breastfeeding-picture.htm

Thanks for the advice. I am in the UK so will have a look at those support groups. When she latches on her lower lip is folded out, but then she tucks it in. How do you go about correcting it? Have sent hubby out to get some nipple shields and will see how that goes.

You can gently pull her lip out - I used to have to do that with DS2.

Expressing and bottle feeding, and also nipple shields, can make BF problematic (but you already know that I am sure).

You can ring one of the helplines right now and they might very well be able to give you some advice that will improve things quickly for you.

shields never worked for me

I kept correcting lower lip by putting my finger between her lop and my nipple

sometimes the suction would go and you hear the pop sound

that is the good sign...

sometimes I had to take baby off andstart again(I breastfeed both till they were 15 months)
it's verystressfull, but worth correcting every time to teach her well

are you in London?

she must be suckling enough but it probably takes ages and she is hungry sooner than other babies - is that how it feels to you?

Ask your HV for a breastfeeding counsellor to come check on her latch again, and as soon as possible- never feel bad about asking repeatedly!

In the meantime get some lansinoh cream (which your HV can prescribe for you to you get it free) and put it on the nipples after every feed and inbetween too if you can- also if you're wearing breast pads rub some of the cream on those too. When possible allow as much air to your nipples as possible- keep bra/clothes off for a bit and gently rub a little squeezed out b'milk over nips and allow to air dry.

Nipple shields have been my lifesaver a few times but they are a last resort- if the cracks are really unbearably sore, not healing quickly and you still want to feed DD then these will protect the nipples and allow them to heal, but they can affect her latch and in some cases have shown to impair drainage which can lead to blocked ducts/mastitis. But for a few days may just help healing and allow you to keep going.
At such an early stage bottles should really be avoided so that your DD doesn't get nipple confusion.

Have a look at kellymom - an excellent resource for all b'feeding issues!

I called the NCT helpine in tears one night. The BFeeding counsellor came out to see me the next day. She was fab, and saved my breastfeeding! Please call them, or the La Leche League or one of the others suggested.